The Party of Reagan Becomes the Party of Putin

Monday, February 24, 2025

S.V. Date: On the wall overlooking the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office is a portrait of the 40th president, Ronald Reagan. If it could move, it would likely turn its back in shame at the words and actions this week by the 47th president.

Posted by Corky at 11:33 PM | 45 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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"Absolutely obscene," said Tom Nichols, a self-described Reaganite and former Naval War College professor, about Donald Trump's capitulation to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

"He ought to take that picture down."

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"Trump's new national security adviser, Mike Waltz, had as a member of Congress stated that Putin was to blame for the Ukraine war the same way that Al Qaeda was to blame for the Sept. 11, 2021, terrorist attack. Asked this week, Waltz literally "both-sided" the question.

"There has been ongoing fighting on both sides," he said in a White House press briefing, and went on to defend Trump for calling Zelenskyy a dictator in the same way Republicans have been defending Trump on indefensible words and deeds for going on a decade.

"Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy," Waltz said, as if describing a cranky toddler who would be fine after a snack and a short nap.

The Toddler Tyrant Trump.

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-23 05:48 PM | Reply

Krasnov is Putin's bitch.

#2 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-02-23 05:51 PM | Reply

Hi Corky. Republicans like Mike Walz or JD Vance have neither scruples nor principles. They double-talk out of both sides of their mouths just to get ahead. For these hacks, working for Trumpf is a phenomenal way to make a handsome paycheck (+$150,000 per annum) while expanding their network for post-WH positions. And for Vance he's a goddam VPOTUS who is one Big Mac bite away from the WH. "Who cares what I said about Trumpf or Putin years ago? I'm in power now, baby!" MAGA supporters don't seem to mind a lack of principles or character in their leaders as long as "the white men" are in charge.

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-02-23 06:43 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

I bet when Shady swallowed his manhood and took this gig, he didn't imagine he would be 4th in line after Musk and Putin.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-23 07:38 PM | Reply

Corky McCarthy keep this going.

Nobody seems to care about being called a commie.

#5 | Posted by eberly at 2025-02-23 07:42 PM | Reply

What's a'matta, Bev... you lonely again?

Try 1Nut. Together ya'll have almost a pair.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-23 07:56 PM | Reply

Well, yeah.

Just look at this photo from the Helsinki Conference of Pres Trump's first term ...

foreignpolicy.com

Can you say, "subservient?"

I knew you could.

Pres Putin, in that pic, looks like he has pawned Pres Trump.

And the really sad aspect of that photo is that Pres Trump does not seem to be doing anything to counter that view since then.

Indeed, in his current sucking up to the Pres Putin lies, he seems only to be justifying that viewpoint.

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-24 11:44 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Just a quick history lesson, Russia was communist back during the Reagan administration. I guess the lefts biggest problem with Russia now is they aren't communist anymore?

#8 | Posted by THEBULL at 2025-02-25 06:35 AM | Reply

Just a quick history lesson, Russia was communist back during the Reagan administration. I guess the lefts biggest problem with Russia now is they aren't communist anymore?

#8 | Posted by THEBULL at 2025-02-25 06:35 AM | Reply ERM NOOOOOO

I see you ate up all the stupid... again...

We object to Trumpanzee's support of a former high-ranking KGB agent... now president... who led a coup to assassinate Michail Gorbachev. Remember him? He was the one who ended communism in Russia.

(psssst it wasn't Reagan)

Putin has been hell-bent on reclaiming territories lost at the break-up... hence the invasion of Ukraine. True story.

He and Trumpanzee want to turn back time.

Do you honestly think a nation with close economic, military, political ties, and proximity to China is veering away from Communism?

Iran, China, and Russia have an alliance... and that is why we don't count on Republicl0wns to fight communism or totalitarianism

Here's the shopping list of Russia's allies
China, Belarus, Vietnam, North Korea, Myanmar, Eritrea, Mali, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Venezuela, Palestine, Libya, Armenia, Burundi, Syria, India, and a few others. It's a socialist wet dream! Hardly the bastions of of democratic capitalism. Look into it when you tire of spewing the asinine.

Trumpanzee and his flying monkeys want to be part of that club.

Your stupidity explains your name. You suck. GFY Crack open a book.

#9 | Posted by RightisTrite at 2025-02-25 08:17 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Iran, China, and Russia have an alliance... and that is why we don't count on Republicl0wns to fight communism or totalitarianism

How would you go about this, then?

Insert yourself into the White House and specifically tell me what you would do. How would you engage Russia, Ukraine, any of those countries you listed.

I agree those countries are not "bastions of democratic capitalism". so what?

Let's consider we are interested in 2 outcomes..

1. Peace
2. Prosperity

In order for those to happen, we have to deal with those countries and we do, currently. We all know that despite Putin's aggression, we prefer and benefit from Russia working with us in many ways.

So...........tell us how you would run things.

I voted for Harris. I hoped for a different outcome in that election. Didn't get what I wanted. But I'm not up on geo-political global politics. I'm not interested in watching 14,000 pity parties about the GOP. So please....spare me your tear drenched drama and tell me how you'd run things.

And....again, no criticism of any action taken unless you insert YOUR action in it's place.

#10 | Posted by eberly at 2025-02-25 09:02 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

The Republican Party is different from the MAGA Party. They both have the same fat orange criminal insurrectionist and golf cheat at their head. The removal of that person would kill one of the parties, but not the other. But which one would remain standing? Asking for Barry Goldwater...

#11 | Posted by catdog at 2025-02-25 09:28 AM | Reply

It goes without saying but #10 was for everyone to jump in and respond.

#12 | Posted by eberly at 2025-02-25 09:48 AM | Reply

Why are we pretending that Ronnie Ray-gun would have been any different? Same dementia, same propensity for treason, and Russia is a capitalist oligarchy now, so he'd have no problem playing ball.

Reagan was a traitor. Iran hostage election manipulation and Iran-Contra should have clued you in.

#13 | Posted by DarkVader at 2025-02-25 11:20 AM | Reply

# 10 Eberly.

I have no problem with Socialist countries. They are always the result of what happens when economic disparity goes too far for too long. People rise up and kill the ricos. Nasty business greed.

I was responding to THEBULL's b.s. remark about how we hate him for supporting Putin as if he were a big ally of capitalism. He's not. He doesn't have the power to reverse the situation. If he did he would.

Neither are most of his alliances many of whom are his neighboring nations.

All Russia has is nukes. Its economy isn't all that great... similar to Mexico's. Mexico is also a capitalist democratic country... I hope their new Presidente helps settle some issues. They have oil and a workforce. We need both. Their American-made armament used by the cartels indicates to me that a certain sector of our population doesn't mind keeping them in business.

Shame the righty righties are blowing off the capitalists... years of blah blah blah sucking lefties blah blah blah... is all.

#14 | Posted by RightisTrite at 2025-02-25 11:53 AM | Reply

Palin just prescient; she really can see Russia from her porch.

#15 | Posted by MBlue at 2025-02-25 12:14 PM | Reply

Let's consider we are interested in 2 outcomes..

1. Peace
2. Prosperity

"Those who would trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state have told us they have a utopian solution of peace without victory. They call their policy "accommodation." And they say if we'll only avoid any direct confrontation with the enemy, he'll forget his evil ways and learn to love us. All who oppose them are indicted as warmongers. They say we offer simple answers to complex problems. Well, perhaps there is a simple answer - not an easy answer but simple: If you and I have the courage to tell our elected officials that we want our national policy based on what we know in our hearts is morally right.

We cannot buy our security, our freedom from the threat of the bomb by committing an immorality so great as saying to a billion human beings now enslaved behind the Iron Curtain, "Give up your dreams of freedom because to save our own skins, we're willing to make a deal with your slave masters." Alexander Hamilton said, "A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one." Now let's set the record straight. There's no argument over the choice between peace and war, but there's only one guaranteed way you can have peace - and you can have it in the next second - surrender."

Ronald Reagan, October 27th, 1964.

I think it is equally applicable today...it's just not something that is tolerable in Republican circles.

#16 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-02-25 01:25 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

but there's only one guaranteed way you can have peace - and you can have it in the next second - surrender.

This is Lewzer's advice to Ukraine.

#17 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-02-25 01:38 PM | Reply

#17

Dude, in my office space, there is all kinds of crazy talk. withdrawing and terminating influence efforts across the globe.

Some of it is already happening, but China and Russia are just waiting in the wings to fill the voids left in the developing world if the US withdraws from those places.

#18 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-02-25 02:20 PM | Reply

I thought the left hates Reagan.

#19 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-02-26 05:20 PM | Reply

#19

Do you have a point?

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-26 05:23 PM | Reply

I thought the left hates Reagan.

#19 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Yeah, and there was a time when I thought you were an American.

#21 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 05:27 PM | Reply

#19 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

The last ten years has been a test of character that you and the Right have failed.

You have no character. You act that way; you talk that way.

And when things start going terribly wrong because of that, like now

You people just double down on lack of character.

#22 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 05:29 PM | Reply

@#19 ... I thought the left hates Reagan. ...

I voted for him. Twice.

#23 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-26 05:33 PM | Reply

- You people just double down on lack of character.

Anyone who excuses a Pres being as vile a person as DJT... is a person not worth reading in my book.

Or, as Capt. Call said, "You ride with an outlaw, you die with an outlaw.".

#24 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-26 05:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Cheneys endorse Harris, the right responds, "ZOMG! The left loves neocon warmongers!"

Bannon attacks Musk, the right responds, " ZOMG! The left loves Bannon!"

Article headline, "republicans went from Reagan to Putin", the right responds, "ZOMG! The left loves Reagan."

Conservatives lack critical thinking skills and self awareness.

#25 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-26 05:49 PM | Reply

Zed,

You, like an ever growing subset on the left cannot abide disagreement. You display it every day.

#26 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-02-26 06:01 PM | Reply

You, like an ever growing subset on the left cannot abide disagreement.

#26 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

I abide your disagreement.

It's just that I know that you're FOS.

#27 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 06:03 PM | Reply

The irony is rich. I'm being talked down to by a person with no morals.

#28 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-02-26 06:05 PM | Reply

I'm being talked down to by a person with no morals.

#28 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Point him out. I'll have a talk with him.

#29 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 06:07 PM | Reply

" It's just that I know that you're FOS.

#27 | POSTED BY ZED AT 2025-02-26 06:03 PM | REPLY | FLAG:"

Says the guy who thought Biden was sharp as a tack and claims Trump staged his own shooting that got two people killed.

#30 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-02-26 06:07 PM | Reply

He is you, Zed

#31 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-02-26 06:08 PM | Reply

- the left cannot abide disagreement.

The right CAN abide a lying criminal rapist traitor as not only Leader of their Party, but as President of their Country.

Which is undeniably a much worse crime.

#32 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-26 06:08 PM | Reply

He is you, Zed

#31 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

I will give myself a stern rebuke.

#33 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 06:09 PM | Reply

Says the guy who thought Biden was sharp as a tack and claims Trump staged his own shooting that got two people killed.
#30 | POSTED BY BULLBRINGER

Trump would gladly kill you and your whole family if it meant winning the presidency and staying out of prison.

He wouldn't lose a single night's sleep over it.

#34 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-26 06:11 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

claims Trump staged his own shooting that got two people killed.

#30 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

1) Yes, it's a conspiracy theory.

2) Yes, it's damned good one.

3) There's nothing in Trump's history of behavior that says he is not capable.

4) I mean face it----There was never anything wrong with his ear.

5) The "blood" for that "damaged" ear was provided by a squib. An old magician's trick.

#35 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 06:12 PM | Reply

Trump would gladly kill you and your whole family if it meant winning the presidency and staying out of prison.

He wouldn't lose a single night's sleep over it.

#34 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

There is EVERY reason to believe that to be true.

#36 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 06:14 PM | Reply

Oh. It is true.

Trump would sacrifice a thousand people if it resulted in his freedom and power.

And then go eat McDonald's for dinner.

#37 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-26 06:15 PM | Reply

@#18 ... withdrawing and terminating influence efforts across the globe.

Some of it is already happening, but China and Russia are just waiting in the wings to fill the voids left in the developing world if the US withdraws from those places. ...

Yup.

Putin's Wagner Group is working to increase Russian influence in Africa.

Ditto for China, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi's multi-day visit last month.

Now that USAID is gone, their job will be easier. So much easier.

#38 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-02-26 06:23 PM | Reply

The rumor around the WH is that he eats Big Macs while on the toilet.

But that's only one reason why Malaria's Code Name is now Major Flight Risk.

#39 | Posted by Corky at 2025-02-26 06:24 PM | Reply

A photo of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump taken on Saturday without his ear bandage has sparked a wave of speculation.

The image, taken by Alex Brandon of the Associated Press on July 27 and shared by photojournalist Pete Souza on X, formerly Twitter, shows Trump walking up an airplane staircase with an apparently fully healed ear wound just weeks after he was shot with a high-powered rifle.

On July 12, gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing firefighter Corey Comperatore, wounding Trump's upper right ear, and critically injuring two others.

Souza, known for his tenure as the chief official White House photographer for Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, posted Brandon's photo on his now-deactivated X account on Saturday, writing, "AP photo this morning. Look closely at his ear that was 'hit' by a bullet from an AR-15 assault rifle."

The photo, showing Trump's seemingly healed ear only two weeks after it was grazed by a bullet, has raised eyebrows...follows speculation from last week by FBI director Christopher Wray about whether Trump's ear was hit by a bullet or by shrapnel. The FBI later confirmed he was hit by a bullet.

----Newsweek, 07/24

#40 | Posted by Zed at 2025-02-26 06:30 PM | Reply

Pete Souza was once our city newspaper's photo journalist. I'm proud to say.

#41 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-02-26 06:33 PM | Reply

If Trumps ear had actually been shot.

There would've been photos of it plastered on every news show, talk show, morning show.

It would have been on the cover of magazines. Been shared on Instagram stories, TikTok reels, and Facebook posts.

There would've been billboards of it in every major city.

He wouldn't have hidden it. He'd have kept reminding people of what happened to him.

He would've worn it like a badge of honor. Like a war trophy. As a reminder of what he sacrificed for us.

#42 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-26 06:41 PM | Reply

It's funny when Republicans pretend that it could've magically healed and disappeared without leaving any trace.

All that red stuff on his ear and the side of his face would've had to come from somewhere if it was blood.

There would have been, at minimum, some indication of broken skin on his ear.

#43 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-02-26 06:44 PM | Reply

Pete Souza was once our city newspaper's photo journalist.

He did a lot of great work.

#44 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-02-26 06:52 PM | Reply

__________
The key is here:

FTA: |------- Trump's fascination with autocrats generally and Putin in particular has been well documented for more than a decade. In 2013, he posted on social media that his hosting of a beauty pageant in Russia might win him Putin's approval.

"Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow - if so, will he become my new best friend?" he wrote.

That was followed by years of attempts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow - an effort that continued straight through his first run for president in 2016, it came out later. Trump asked for Russian help to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton that year, and then knowingly used the hacked and stolen emails that Russian spies released during the final month of the presidential campaign.

Then, as both special counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee investigated Russia's role in his victory, Trump eagerly bought into a conspiracy theory concocted by Russian operatives that - contrary to the U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia helped Trump win in 2016 - it was actually Ukraine that had tried to help Clinton win.

Trump sent his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to Ukraine to collect evidence - an effort that ultimately led to Trump's attempt to extort Zelenskyy into announcing an investigation into the Democrat he most feared in the 2020 election, Joe Biden, using U.S. military aid as leverage. Trump was ultimately impeached for that act, but the Republican-led Senate declined to remove him from office.

Trump's personal antagonism toward Zelenskyy, perhaps stemming from that episode, seems to have continued unabated...
-------|

To paraphrase Corleone, for Trump "It's not just 'business,' it's personal."
__________

#45 | Posted by CutiePie at 2025-02-27 05:55 PM | Reply